AMP without a hiss

[mupi]

I have the Blackstar Idcore 20. It is ok for a beginner but the main problem is the hiss. If you play via the speakers, you may not hear the hiss unless you crank up the gain and volume a lot.

I play via my HTPC and due to all the impedance mismatch, I have to crank up the gain and volume on the amp. Yes increasing the amp volume also increases the headphone output and I have connected the amp to my PC via the headphone output. Many owners of this amp have also complained about the hiss. So it is not just my amp. All Blackstar Idcore's seem to have the hiss as complained by many owners. So the hiss is not due to my HTPC or any electrical interference. It is an inherent sound effect of the amp at high gain/volume level.

So I want to ditch this amp and get something else under $200. I have already tried the Fender Mustang V2, Rolland Cube, Marshall MG10 etc and didnt like them. The Mustang V2 had high noise floor (too noisy), the Cube was too small, the Marshall MH10 didnt have any effects.

So I am looking for some suggestions. If there is ground loop hum, I can fix it by getting a hum eliminator like Ebtech. But I am not able to get rid of the hiss. I use a compressor (Boss CS-3) and the hiss from the Blackstar also gets amplified via the compressor. So I am not able to use the high sustain and high level setting on the compressor. Suatain was the reason I got the compressor and now I cant use it because the darn amp is hissy.

 

[Aceman]

Re: AMP without a hiss

Mupi - this is a personal issue for me. I HATE people who are like "There is a hum, or there is a hiss, or there is a [whatever]"

At the end of the day, gain IS hiss, and I wish people would focus more on the music and not the noise around it. It's like going to an art museum and discussing the color of the walls and not the picture itself.

If you don't want people to hear the hum/hiss - play more and talk less. But I recognize that there are people who can't separate themselves from this. Probably the same people who go crazy from tinnitus (which I have). If that's you I feel for you. For me - once the music starts, that's all I hear unless the "noise" is egregious.

 

[dave74]

Re: AMP without a hiss

What about a noise reducer pedal?

 

[mupi]

Re: AMP without a hiss

Unfortunately the hiss is all I hear as it is too much. The other amps didnt have hiss at all. If the hiss is overwhelming, I cant focus on the music. I use amps for my audio systems like the Rotel RB-1080 and they are perfectly silent. Even my receiver Denon AVR-3310 is silent. If my audio amp had this much hiss, I just would not use them with my speakers. Nobody wants to hear unwanted noise. Hiss is the last thing people like to hear from their speakers. BTW Rotel RB-1080 is a very good quality amp and I am not surprised it is quiet. The receiver is like mid-high level ($1100 when I bought it 5 yrs ago)

I am not sure why the guitar amps have higher noise floor. Is it because I am dealing with cheapo amps like $79 for Idcore 20? If I bump up the budget to $300 what do I get?

I am not very convinced that I get better quality at $300 or $400. If you look at the Blackstar Idcore 40, it is the same junky amp design (looks like) but bigger speaker and more power as the Idcore 40 owners also complain about the same hiss.

Some people are sensitive about such things. So for us it is a big deal to just ignore it. I am not playing in front of others. To me this is very distracting as I use headphones and the compressor makes it even worse. I dont want to go on about why I am using a compressor. There is another thread with a lot of posts from me explaining why I am uisng Boss CS-3.

 

[mupi]

Re: AMP without a hiss

What about a noise reducer pedal?

Well if my main equipment is junky, I like to see if I can replace it with a better one. I already have a pedal, Boss CS-3 and dont want to add another one in the chain.

I also have an isolation transformer that is between the amp and the HTPC. This isolation transformer is cutting down a lot of hum but it is not getting rid of the hiss as it is probably because the isolation transformer only cuts 60hz.

 

[mupi]

Re: AMP without a hiss

BTW I read that noise gates cut the content that is below a certain threshold. The problem with the hiss is that when I am playing, the hiss will get mixed with what I am playing and that combined sound would be above the threshold. So while the hiss may be reduced when I am not playing anything, would it be reduced when I am playing. If you have heard the Blackstar Idcore 20 at high gain, you would notice that it is a very prominent hiss. Not just a low level background hiss. Very audible annoying hiss for those who use headphones.

Now I cant complain that a $79 junk made in China has hiss. What I am looking for is an amp that does not have this inherent hiss. I dont want to spend a lot of money to fix a $79 junk.

 

[mupi]

Re: AMP without a hiss

Well is is not $79. It is $159. Bought it from Sweetwater. I believe the Rolland Cube was also $159. That didnt have the hiss nor did the Marshall MG10 and the Fender Mustang V2 (around $200)

 

[Adieu]

Re: AMP without a hiss

If you're plugging solid state thru your PC anyway, why not get a PC-to-USB + amp modelling software?

Pretty sure most of those will stomp all over the Blackstar

 

[mupi]

Re: AMP without a hiss

If you're plugging solid state thru your PC anyway, why not get a PC-to-USB + amp modelling software?

Pretty sure most of those will stomp all over the Blackstar

Initially I had my guitar connected to the PC via line-in, then I took the optical out from the PC sound card to my receiver and let the receiver do the amplification. But the input straight from the guitar was just not enough. So I bought the amp.

So if I am uisng a guitar software, any idea how I am going to do the amplification as the sound level directly from the guitar is just too low. The headphone amp also cant boost it enough. So it sounded very thin. Thats why I bougnt a guitar amp and now I am feeding the headphone out from the amp to the PC through the same line-in on the PC.

 

[mupi]

Re: AMP without a hiss

I have looked into guitar pre-amps and they are pretty expensive. But if I can get a hiss-free solution, I am willing to spend some $300 on a guitar pre-amp and add the software to the PC.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: AMP without a hiss

Digitech RP series pedal look and make sure it has a USB port on it
Used you can get an RP55 for about 20 bucks
Couple of amp models and a few drum loops
A couple of effects

You will need to get the ASIO drivers for your PC if you get it used
But they are at the website

 

[mupi]

Re: AMP without a hiss

If you're plugging solid state thru your PC anyway, why not get a PC-to-USB + amp modelling software?

Pretty sure most of those will stomp all over the Blackstar

I tried to download the free ones to see how they are. But I could not get any of them. They all just downlload the manual for free and not the software.

 

[Adieu]

Re: AMP without a hiss

Initially I had my guitar connected to the PC via line-in, then I took the optical out from the PC sound card to my receiver and let the receiver do the amplification. But the input straight from the guitar was just not enough. So I bought the amp.

So if I am uisng a guitar software, any idea how I am going to do the amplification as the sound level directly from the guitar is just too low. The headphone amp also cant boost it enough. So it sounded very thin. Thats why I bougnt a guitar amp and now I am feeding the headphone out from the amp to the PC through the same line-in on the PC.

That's NOT how that works.

You get a USB to guitar gadget, like a Rocksmith cable or a number of other solutions.

Then your soundcard and software do the rest

 

[Adieu]

Re: AMP without a hiss

Initially I had my guitar connected to the PC via line-in, then I took the optical out from the PC sound card to my receiver and let the receiver do the amplification. But the input straight from the guitar was just not enough. So I bought the amp.

So if I am uisng a guitar software, any idea how I am going to do the amplification as the sound level directly from the guitar is just too low. The headphone amp also cant boost it enough. So it sounded very thin. Thats why I bougnt a guitar amp and now I am feeding the headphone out from the amp to the PC through the same line-in on the PC.

That's NOT how that works.

You get a USB to guitar gadget, like a Rocksmith cable or a number of other solutions.

Then your soundcard and software do the rest

 

[Adieu]

Re: AMP without a hiss

I tried to download the free ones to see how they are. But I could not get any of them. They all just downlload the manual for free and not the software.

Im not sure what's what these days... I know the current generstion of Peavey Revalver has gone all DRM protection dongle this, buy everything thru DLCs for a few bucks that

They CLAIM to have a workable demo version, but Im not sure wth that includes...Older version was definitely pirate-able, though. Maybe treat yourself to a preview if it turns out to be a lie, with no try before you buy?

 

[Jacew]

Re: AMP without a hiss

Mupi - this is a personal issue for me. I HATE people who are like "There is a hum, or there is a hiss, or there is a [whatever]"

At the end of the day, gain IS hiss, and I wish people would focus more on the music and not the noise around it. It's like going to an art museum and discussing the color of the walls and not the picture itself.

If you don't want people to hear the hum/hiss - play more and talk less. But I recognize that there are people who can't separate themselves from this. Probably the same people who go crazy from tinnitus (which I have). If that's you I feel for you. For me - once the music starts, that's all I hear unless the "noise" is egregious.

I don't mind some noise, but when you up the volume of digital modeler too much the hiss does become very egregous. It's not at all the same as your regular amp/pickup/pedal hiss.

 

[Jacew]

Re: AMP without a hiss

I have the Blackstar Idcore 20. It is ok for a beginner but the main problem is the hiss. If you play via the speakers, you may not hear the hiss unless you crank up the gain and volume a lot.

I play via my HTPC and due to all the impedance mismatch, I have to crank up the gain and volume on the amp. Yes increasing the amp volume also increases the headphone output and I have connected the amp to my PC via the headphone output. Many owners of this amp have also complained about the hiss. So it is not just my amp. All Blackstar Idcore's seem to have the hiss as complained by many owners. So the hiss is not due to my HTPC or any electrical interference. It is an inherent sound effect of the amp at high gain/volume level.

So I want to ditch this amp and get something else under $200. I have already tried the Fender Mustang V2, Rolland Cube, Marshall MG10 etc and didnt like them. The Mustang V2 had high noise floor (too noisy), the Cube was too small, the Marshall MH10 didnt have any effects.

So I am looking for some suggestions. If there is ground loop hum, I can fix it by getting a hum eliminator like Ebtech. But I am not able to get rid of the hiss. I use a compressor (Boss CS-3) and the hiss from the Blackstar also gets amplified via the compressor. So I am not able to use the high sustain and high level setting on the compressor. Suatain was the reason I got the compressor and now I cant use it because the darn amp is hissy.

It depends of computer, but some do allow to adjust the line in level. That might be solution here.

I don't think you need compressor. Using one with modeler seems really counter-productive. It should have well enough sustain without it once you set it up.

 

[AxlOz]

Re: AMP without a hiss

1 - The more 'things' you have physically plugged in together, the more chance for erroneous signal to enter the circuit. Its all to do with the physical connections, compounded tolerances.
2 - Guitars and amplifiers are actually very old technology, and are inherently bad at anything 'hi-fi'.
3 - Pedals to stop pedal noise is a bigger compromise than the problems themselves sometimes - in my experience..

My advice to you is to do as a few have suggested above - get a new dedicated USB interface to plug your guitar into. All effects etc are then software based (digital), and you can also use amp and cab models to shape your tone. The weakest link in that scenario is (again) the guitar, with its old school technology; and the cable between the guitar and the interface. Then the output is whatever hifi (ie, PC) speakers or headphones you run off that. If you want to play louder (with a drummer etc), don't use the PC.

Lastly, if you play single coil pickups you will get hum and noise, sometimes it'll be worse than others.. It doesn't matter how tidy the circuit is.

 

[Jacew]

Re: AMP without a hiss

1 - The more 'things' you have physically plugged in together, the more chance for erroneous signal to enter the circuit. Its all to do with the physical connections, compounded tolerances.
2 - Guitars and amplifiers are actually very old technology, and are inherently bad at anything 'hi-fi'.
3 - Pedals to stop pedal noise is a bigger compromise than the problems themselves sometimes - in my experience..

My advice to you is to do as a few have suggested above - get a new dedicated USB interface to plug your guitar into. All effects etc are then software based (digital), and you can also use amp and cab models to shape your tone. The weakest link in that scenario is (again) the guitar, with its old school technology; and the cable between the guitar and the interface. Then the output is whatever hifi (ie, PC) speakers or headphones you run off that. If you want to play louder (with a drummer etc), don't use the PC.

Lastly, if you play single coil pickups you will get hum and noise, sometimes it'll be worse than others.. It doesn't matter how tidy the circuit is.

Funny, that aside BBD circuits, for me it's always been the digital things in signal line that produce hiss.

 

[justFred]

Re: AMP without a hiss

Pick up a Boss Katana 50...~180...it has everything your looking for...